Sue Black

Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind

Written in Bone

From the author of All That Remains, a tour through the human skeleton and the secrets our bones reveal. In her memoir All That Remains, internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist Dame Sue Black recounted her life lived eye to eye with the Grim Reaper, and in the course of it offered a primer on the basics of identifying human remains, plenty of insights into the fascinating processes of death, and a sober, compassionate understanding of its inescapable presence of in our existence, all leavened with her wicked sense of humor. In her new book, Sue Black builds on the first, taking us on a guided tour of the human skeleton and explaining how each person's life history is revealed in their bones, what she calls "the last sentinels of our mortal life to bear witness to the way we lived it." Her narrative follows the skeleton from the top of the skull to the small bones in the foot. Each step of the journey includes an explanation of the biology—how the bone is formed in a person's development, how it changes as we age, the secrets is may hold—and is illustrated with anecdotes from the author's career helping solve crimes and identifying human remains, whether recent or historical. Written in Bone is full of entertaining stories that read like scenes from a true-life CSI drama, infused with the same humor and no-nonsense practicality about the realities of corpses and death.

As an x-ray tech this book was incredibly interesting and informative in ways my textbooks weren’t. Incredibly fascinating and easy to understand though at times unsettling to digest. 

Nicole Neuman

From the author of All That Remains, a tour through the human skeleton and the secrets our bones reveal. Longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association ALCS Gold Dagger for Nonfiction. In her memoir All That Remains, internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist Dame Sue Black recounted her life lived eye to eye with the Grim Reaper. During the course of it, she offered a primer on the basics of identifying human remains, plenty of insights into the fascinating processes of death, and a sober, compassionate understanding of its inescapable presence in our existence, all leavened with her wicked sense of humor. In her new book, Sue Black builds on the first, taking us on a guided tour of the human skeleton and explaining how each person's life history is revealed in their bones, which she calls "the last sentinels of our mortal life to bear witness to the way we lived it." Her narrative follows the skeleton from the top of the skull to the small bones in the foot. Each step of the journey includes an explanation of the biology—how the bone is formed in a person's development, how it changes as we age, the secrets it may hold—and is illustrated with anecdotes from the author's career helping solve crimes and identifying human remains, whether recent or historical. Written in Bone is full of entertaining stories that read like scenes from a true-life CSI drama, infused with humor and no-nonsense practicality about the realities of corpses and death.

Excellent book in terms of the science and life experiences of Sue Black, little more care should have been taken in the naming of the trans individual and the work of prostitutes

Greta Keller

Our bones are the silent witnesses to the lives we lead. Our stories are marbled into their marrow. Drawing upon her years of research and a wealth of remarkable experience, the world-renowned forensic anthropologist Dame Sue Black takes us on a journey of revelation. From skull to toe, via the teeth, spine, chest, arms, hands, pelvis and legs, she delicately reverse engineers events, piecing together the evidence in our remains to discover thedetails of lives once lived. All that we eat, where we go, everything we do leaves a trace, a message that waits patiently in our bones for the forensic anthropologist to decipher it. Some of this information is easily understood, some holds its secrets tight and needs scientific cajoling to be released. Sue Black's Written in Bone will astonish and amaze as it unravels with intimate sensitivity and compassion the inside story of what we leave behind.

A fascinating journey through the human body, and the stories that are told by our bones.

Laura Dobie

'Gripping from the start, Written in Bone is superb' - Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural Causes From the Sunday Times Bestselling author of All That Remains, Sue Black reveals the secrets hidden deep within our bones. Drawing upon her years of research and a wealth of remarkable experience, the world-renowned forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black takes us on a journey of revelation. From skull to feet, via the face, spine, chest, arms, hands, pelvis and legs, she shows that each part of us has a tale to tell. What we eat, where we go, everything we do leaves a trace, a message that waits patiently for months, years, sometimes centuries, until a forensic anthropologist is called upon to decipher it. Some of this information is easily understood, some holds its secrets tight and needs scientific cajoling to be released. But by carefully piecing together the evidence, the facts of a life can be rebuilt. Limb by limb, case by case - some criminal, some historical, some unaccountably bizarre - Sue Black reconstructs with intimate sensitivity and compassion the hidden stories in what we leave behind. Praise for Sue Black: 'Utterly gripping' - The Guardian 'Fascinating' - The Sunday Times 'Moving' - Scotsman 'Engrossing' - Financial Times

hidden stories in what we leave behind

Written In Bone

Christa Bakker

This book seeks to tell you about what bones can tell you of the person they belong to. And that's what it does. Brilliantly, ethically, and often humourously. Such an interesting subject, and described with lots of character. Wonderful!

Katie Bell

My rating system equates 5 star reviews to "Bury me with it" and nothing else would fit this book more than that (and of course, a 5 star review). I was lucky enough to receive an arc of the audiobook from NetGalley and have thoroughly enjoyed listening. Sue Black takes the reader through the entire skeleton and talks about how each bone starts, grows, and what they look like in death - in murders and naturally. I have learned SO MUCH. I have always been obsessed with forensic anthropology and thought I knew cute little factoids for dinner parties (am I weird??) but this book has given me so many more. It was intelligent, informative, and wildly interesting.

Kristin Hamill

Having been interested in anthropology since a young age, I am very grateful to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Sue Black for the opportunity to review an audio arc of Written In Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind penned and narrated by Sue Black.

Written in Bone is organized head to toe, beginning with the skull and traveling down the body to the bones of the feet. In each section, Black discusses how the bones are formed and how our lives, our day to day experiences, affect those bones. Each area is accompanied with an account from Black’s career in forensic anthropology, mixing in recent criminal cases as well as historical finds. Black details how the smallest clue on the smallest bone can sometimes provide the information needed to break the case.

This book is a fascinating glimpse into the realities of forensic anthropology. It may not be a glamorous job, but it is immensely interesting. Black does a fantastic job of making this topic accessible to the average person without dumbing down the topic. It is witty and was a joy to listen to in the author’s own voice. Her dry sense of humor came across clearly, and made what could be considered a morbid topic into an educational look at what a forensic anthropologist does and how they go about their job.

I will definitely be checking out All That Remains, as well future books by Black.

Written in Bone Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind

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